With the expiration of a 10-year operating agreement with the Rochester Red Wings, the Batavia Muckdogs’ future is once more in question.

The Red Wings are willing to continue to subsidize operations of the struggling Muckdogs, a Class A rookie league team that shares a rich history of professional baseball in the region, said team president and CEO Naomi Silver.

However, the New York-Penn League isn’t in favor of extending the agreement between the Red Wings and Genesee County Baseball Club that guarantees — in the event of a sale — the Red Wings receive 5 percent of the proceeds for each year they operate the Muckdogs.

As it stands, that’s 50 percent. The Muckdogs have been for sale since 2010 and are valued in the neighborhood of $6 million.

“We had a one-year renewable contract for up to 10 seasons and we completed those 10 seasons," said Silver of a deal that ended Oct. 31. “That is the expiration of the agreement and we’re moving on. We would’ve stayed if mutually agreed by both the GCBC in Batavia and the league had wanted us to, but I think the league is trying to make other arrangements and I don’t know what they are, frankly."

NY-Penn President Ben Hayes did not return a message left on his cell phone. His office mailbox was full.

Brian Paris, president of GCBC, the Muckdogs’ community ownership group, is optimistic that Batavia, the league’s last founding member, will field a team in 2018. The schedule has already been released and the Muckdogs are on it.

“The hope is that we’ll have baseball in Batavia in 2018," said Paris, who had no details to share but said he doesn’t believe the league wants to shut down operations. “Right now, we’re working with the league to develop an outcome and we’re excited about potentially making an announcement in the near future in regards to what that outcome may be."

In May 2016 a deal for an African-American investment group to purchase the Muckdogs and relocate them to Waldorf, Maryland, fell through due to territorial issues between the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals. The Waldorf team would’ve been a Nationals affiliate.

Red Wings Chief Operating Officer and Chairman of the Board Naomi Silver, far left, accepts thanks from the president of the Genesee County Baseball Club Brian Paris during a press conference announcing the Red Wings will take over the Batavia Muckdogs baseball operation Wednesday afternoon, March 12, 2008. Next to Silver is Batavia City Council Ward 2 representative Marianne Clattenburg.
(Democrat and Chronicle staff photo by Kris J. Murante, 03/12/08)(Photo: KRIS J MURANTE staff photographe, KRIS J MURANTE staff photographe)

The Muckdogs, founded in 1939, have not averaged more than 1,000 fans at Dwyer Stadium since 2011. Last year’s attendance dipped to 27,389 for an average of 806 for 34 dates, lowest in the Red Wings’ decade of management.

“The Genesee County Baseball Club’s main focus is to do everything we can to keep baseball in Batavia for years to come,’’ Paris said. “The bottom line issue is that’s become a very challenging hurdle over the past 10 or 15 years. Batavia is a small market and it's hard to keep up and so forth. We’ve been here almost 80 years, but it’s just been something that’s been very difficult for us to do.’’

The only long-term solution to save the team for the city is to find a buyer willing to keep the team in Batavia and dedicate the resources required to make it a successful venture.

“I don’t want to be too simplistic but it is simplistic,’’ Paris said. “Someone comes in with the dollars required to purchase the team, and wants to keep it in Batavia, that would be the best-case scenario but that person hasn’t been identified yet. You never know, someone could call tomorrow. It just hasn’t happened for all the years we’ve hoped that would occur.’’

As for the Red Wings helping to keep baseball in Batavia for the last decade, Paris said his group is “forever grateful.’’

According to the Red Wings 2016 annual report to shareholders, Rochester Community Baseball Inc. averaged an annual loss of $172,000 operating the Muckdogs for the first nine years.

Rising expenses and dwindling attendance saw annual losses rise to $230,000 in 2015 and $247,000 in 2016. The yet-to-be released 2017 figure will be higher yet given the record-low attendance.

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Red Wings president/CEO Naomi Silver said her team would be willing to assist Batavia Muckdogs in the future if need arises. An operational agreement has reached its 10-year maximum.(Photo: CARLOS ORTIZ, @cfortiz_dandc/staff photographer)

While the Red Wings incurred nearly $2 million in accumulated losses operating the Muckdogs, Silver is confident that 50 percent of proceeds from the franchise’s eventual sale will exceed what was spent. That will have made it a wise business move that was also good for the game and benefited a neighboring community.

“If we get 5 percent in a sale we will more than make up for what we spent there,’’ Silver said. “We’re not at financial risk in that way at all. In more recent years as expenses continue to go up, it’s been greater than when we started but still very much within the threshold of what we’ll make and we’ll be OK. It’s as if we loaned them money.’’

Silver said the Red Wings are still willing to assist the Muckdogs in any capacity and she'll be listening to developments surrounding the team at upcoming baseball winter meetings.

“They (GCBC) have been good stewards to the extent they’ve been able to,’’ Silver said. “Nothing is forever, unfortunately.’’

LROTH@Gannett.com

Frontier Field lease

A new 10-year lease agreement at Frontier Field between the Red Wings and Monroe County, agreed to in concept in August, is not yet finalized. Silver is hopeful she can present a signed lease to shareholders at the team’s annual meeting Jan. 27 at the Double Tree Inn in Henrietta.

“We’ve incorporated all of what we agreed upon in August, so I would imagine this should be a slam-dunk at this point,’’ Silver said. “I certainly hope so.’’